Signaling- system



May 22, 1923. 1,455,958

. E. D. JOHNSON S IGNALING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1918 //4 ven/or:

fdgq/D. fa/117s on Patented May 22, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR I). JOHNSON, 01 EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNALING SYSTEIVI.

Application filed January 24, 1913.

To aZZ QUhO/Ib it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR D. JoHNson, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, or which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

The invention relates to electric circuits in which a repeater or the like is connected to a transmission line in one manner for transmission in one direction and in another manner for transmission the opposite direction.

An object of the invention is to establish the repeater connections automatically in response to current such as voice current impressed on the line. One embodiment of the invention provides toreach of the two line sections a control relay operated preferably by voice current. A further object of the invention is to insure that signaling current approaching the repeater in one direction shall operate the proper voice relay and not the other relay. In one aspect of the invention this is accomplished by a short circuit across the line and located between the two relays. Current approaching the repeater from either direction after passing one relay is short-circuited and thereby prevented ifrom reaching the other relay. The short circuit is automatically removed from across the lines and connected across the relay which should not be operated so that the latter is rendered inoperative and the control maintained by the proper relay.

Further objects of the invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of the invention; and F ig. 2 illustrates a conventional audion amplifier.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the repeater l, which is here shown as of the mechanical type, although any other type may be used instead, is shown to be reversibly connected between the lines 2 and 3 to provide for the two-way transmission of signals. The con nection of the repeater l to the lines 2 and 3 is made through electro-magnetic switches 1 and 5 which are controlled by the relays 6 and 7, the latter two being in turn controlled by the control relay 8. The circuit connections are also controlled by a relay 9 similar Serial No. 213,522.

to the relay 8. If desired, the relays 8 and 9 may be provided with amplifiers A shown in detail in Fig. 2. The relays 8 and 9 are responsive to alternating or pulsating current, such as voice current, to cause vibration or their normally closed contacts 10 and 11 respectively. The invention is not limited to any particular form or voice relay and as illustrating one type of relay that may be employed, reference is made to the patent to Brown, 1,185,472, May 30, 1916.

The repeater 1 is normally connected to the lines 2 and 3 but cannot transmit current therebetween because of the shunt 16. \Vith the switch contacts in the position shown in drawings, this transmission may take place in the direction from the line 2 to the line 3, after the short circuit 16 has been removed. The circuits may be traced as follows: line 2, armature 12, input side 13 ot the repeater, relay 9, armature 14, other side of the line 2. The current coming in over the line 2 actuates relay 9 and sets the contact 11 into vibration. The vi bration of contact 11 suiliciently increases the resistance in circuit with switch 15 so that the latter drops its armature 16, thereby removing the short circuit from the output side of the repeater and placing this short circuit across the relay 8, which is thereby rendered inoperative. With the armature 1G in its lowermost position, the repeater 1 may deliver amplified current through the armatures 17 and 18 out upon the line 3.

The location of the short-circuiting armature 16 between the relays 8 and 9 insures that if the relay 9 operates first, this relay will maintain control of the connection, the relay 8 being; rendered inoperative. It voice current originates in line 3, it is necessary that the connections of the repeater 1 to the lines be reversed, in order that current may be repeated from line 3 to line 2. This reversal of connections takes place follows: Current coming in over the line 3 takes a circuit through armature 17, arnu-iture 16 and the secondary repeating coil 19 in parallel, to voice relay 8 and armature 18 to the other side of line 3. The energization of? relay 8 sets its contact 10 into vibration which sui'liciently increases the resistance in circuit with solenoid 20 of relay 6 so that the armature 21 assumes its alternate position. The circuit for the solenoid. 20 may be traced as follows: from ground through contact 10, lead 22, armature'23,solenoid20, battery'24 to ground. The armature 21, whenin its alternate position connects the battery 24. to the solenoids oi switches-4t and 5, thereby energizing-these switches and reversing the connections of therepeater 1 to the lines 2 and 3. The armature 21 in its alternate position also connects battery 24 over lead 25 through solenoid of relay 7 to ground, thereupon inoving armatures 23 and .26 to. their alternate positions. This disconnects the ground 27 "from solenoid 28 of relay (3 and connects solenoid 28 to ground over the lead 22 and through. the vibrating contact 10. The inward movement of armature 23 re moves the solenoid 20 from thecontrol of the contact 10 and connects the solenoid 20 to ground 29. This shift of the control vibrating contact 10 with respect to the solenoids 20' and 28 ot'relay, 6 is made necessary by reason of'the fact that, the switchest and 5 being energized due to the armature. 21 assuming its alternate position, the repeater is connected to: transmit current iii thereversed direction between the lines 2 and .3, with. respect to the direction in which it could transmit current between these lines with the connections as shown in the drawings. W'ith theoutput side of the repeater connected to line 2, current originating in this line and approaching the repeater will reverse the repeater connections as desired.

Still considering the case where voice current originates in the line 3 with the repeater connections as shown in the drawings, the re lay 8 having operated, the connections-of the repeater 1 to. the lines 2 and 3 is reversed as p1'eviously.desci'ibed, current comingin over the line 3 now passes through the armatures 12 and l t to the input side o't'the repeater and from the output side v of the same through armatures 17 and 18 to the line2. The voice relay9 then operates as previously described to remove the short circuit from across the output side of the repeater, shortcircuiting relay 8, thereby rendering. it inoperative. The relay 9 continues to maintain control of the connections as long as current comes in over the line 3. When current in the line 3 ceases, the contact ll'becomes quiet and the short circuit including armature 16 is removed from relay 8 and is connected across the output side of the repeater. The repeater then remains in condition to remove the short circuit from across its out-put side and transmit current in a direction from line 3 to line 2. originates in line 2. the repeater connections are reversed as has been previously described.

Although the invention has been set forth with especial reference to its application to the repeat-ingoifvoice frequency currents it:

is of course also applicable to the repeating 0t ln case current subsequently currents of other frequencies, whether higher orlower. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular circuit arrangements set forth herein, but is capable oi 'embodiment in many and widely varied arrangements within the scope of the appended claims.

Certain broad aspects of this invention which are not claimed herein are claimed in my application Serial No. 210,263, signaling circuits, filed January 4, 1918.

Whatis claimechis: I y 1 repeater system comprising .a line,- a repeater therefor, a normally.closedicircuit incshunt to and short circuiting. across said line-and means responsive to currentirnpressed on said. line torcontrolling. said shunt circuit.

2.1K repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater therefor, a circuit shunt toftlieoutput side of said repeater and forming a by-pass therefor, and arelayrespon sive to current impressed, on each of said lines for controlling said shunt circuit.

8. A line, a repeater therefor, a relay in the output circuit of said repeater-and con nectedYtosaid line wheneno current is impressed thereon, movable con-tact for connectingisaid relay into or out oi circuit, and means responsive to current impressedion said line for controlling. said contact; I I

4 A line, a repeater; therefor, avoice op erated relay associated therewith, a mov able contact adapted to.shuntieithelathe out put circuit of. repeater, or saidirelay, and a secondvoice operated relay controllingfsaid contact. I

5. Aline, a. repeater theretor, a-voice operate d relay associated therewith, a movable contactadapted toshunt either the output circuitof.saidlrepeater or said relay, a nd a second voice operated relay when energized serving... to remove the shunt from across said output circuit and to place a shunt about said firstfmentioned relay.

6. Two lines, arepeater. therefor, ayoice operated relay adapted to reverse theconnectionot' said repeater to said lines, a movable contact adapted to shunt eitherthe output circuit ofisaid repeater or said-relay, and.

means responsive toivo-icecurrent for. COJ11-. trolling said COIItFLQt.

7.' Two lines, a repeater, switchin u ieoha nism for reversibly. connecting. said repeater to said lines, relay controllingsaid switch; ingjmechanis n and comprising two solenoids, a voice; operated irelay having a mov able contact, and .ineans tor interclu eablv connecting said .movablev contact-in: circuit with one orwith the othenot' said solenoids whereby the repeater connections; 136p re versed when incoming. current approaches the repeaterby way ofiits .output'circuith 8. A relay comprising twosolenoi-ds, a: control relay anda movable contactcontrolled thereby, said contact being normally in circuit with one of said solenoids, and means responsive to an energization of said control relay for transferring said contact from one of said solenoids to the other.

9. A two-way repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater normally connected thereto, reversing switch contacts in the input circuit and in the output circuit of said repeater, a voice operated relay between the contacts and said output circuit, said relay controlling said reversing contacts, and a voice operated relay in said input circuit and adapted to render said first mentioned relay inoperative.

10. A repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater therefor, a shunt circuit deriving current from one of said lines, a circuit for connecting input terminals of said repeater to said one line, and means responsive to current on said one line for controlling said shunt circuit.

11. A repeater system comprising a line, a repeater therefor, a voice operated relay associated therewith, a normally closed circuit in shunt to said relay, and means responsive to current impressed on said line for controlling said shunt circuit,

12. A repeater system comprising a line, a repeater therefor, a circuit in shunt to said line and located between said line and said repeater, and means responsive to current impressed on said line for controlling said shunt circuit.

13. A repeater system comprising two lines, a unidirectional repeater, for repeating current in both directions between said lines and means for controlling the pointing of said repeater, said means comprising a relay circuit associated with said repeater and a movable contact which in oneposition shunts said relay circuit and in another position shunts said line.

14, A two-way repeating system comprising two lines, a unidirectional repeater for repeating current in both directions between said lines, and means responsive to electrical conditions in said lines for controlling the pointing of said repeater, said means comprising a relay circuit associated with said repeater and a movable contact for shuntingsaid relay and one of said lines.

- 15. Two lines, a repeater, switching mechanism for reversibly connecting said repeater to said lines, means comprising a plurality of solenoids controlling said switching mechanism, means comprising a vibratile contact controlling said first mentioned means, and connections for including a vibratile contact of said means at times in circuit with one of said solenoids and at other times in ci cuit with another of said solenoids.

16. Two lines, a repeater, switching mechanism for reversibly connecting said repeater to said lines, means comprising a plurality of solenoids controlling said switching mechanism, means comprising a vibratile contact controlling said first mentioned means, and movable contact means adapted to be alternately connected in circuit with said solenoids,

17. Two lines, a repeater normally connected therebetween, switching mechanism controlling the repeater connections, a plurality of solenoids controlling said mechanism, and a relay responsive to signal current for controlling said solenoids, said relay comprising a contact adapted to be interchangeably connected to said solenoids.

18. A repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater normally connected therebetween, switching mechanism controlling the repeater connections, a plurality of solenoids controlling said mechanism, means. comprising a relay, for controlling the said solenoids and means, comprising a relay, whereby said solenoids control said firstmentioned means.

19. A repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater normally having its output terminals connected to both sides of one of said lines and one of its input terminals disconnected from said line, switching mechanism controlling the repeater connections, a plurality of solenoids controlling said mechanism, means for controlling said solenoids, and means whereby said solenoids control said first-mentioned means.

20. The combination of a line, a relay therefor, a contact controlled by said relay, a second relay controlled by said contact. and means responsive to the energization of said second relay to change the controlling relation of said contact with respect to said second relay.

21. A two-way repeater system comprising a line, a repeater adapted to be reversibly connected thereto, switching mechanism between said line and said repeater, a relay responsive to current in said line for controlling said mechanism, a contact controlled by said relay, a second relay controlled by said contact, and means rcsponsive to the energization of said second relay to change the controlling relation of said contact with respect to said second relay.

22. A repeating system comprising two lines, a unidirectional repeater adapted to be reversibly connected therebetween, and means for controlling the reversal of said repeater comprising a voice relay winding connected at times in series with one of said lines and at other times in series with said other line.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this lath day of January A. 1).,

EDGAR D. JoHNsoN. 

